Canterbury Museum, South Island, New Zealand

4.5 (2.793 reviews) Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #11 in South Island History Museums

Canterbury Museum

04/01/2023: The Museum is on the cusp of a much-needed building redevelopment and is closed until 28 January as we prepare for a blockbuster farewell exhibition, 'SHIFT: Urban Art Takeover'. The Museum will close for construction to start on 11 April. Free entry (donations appreciated) where you can experience New Zealand's rich cultural and natural history. See rare Maori artefacts and more than 1,000 paua shells adorning the walls of the famous Paua Shell House. Walk down the Christchurch Street and be transported back in time with the sights and sounds of the city's pioneering days. Discover one of the world's most significant collections from the heroic age of Antarctic exploration and discovery. Regular temporary exhibitions.

Address

11 Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch 8013 New Zealand

Mobile

+64 3-366 5000

Website

http://www.canterburymuseum.com/

Email

[email protected]

Working hours

Monday : 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday : 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday : 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday : 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday : 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday : 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday : 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Current local date and time now

Sunday, May 05, 2024, 21:30

User Ratings

4.5 based on (2.793 reviews)

Excellent

59%

Good

35%

Satisfactory

Poor

Terrible

Reviews

5SGontour 5:00 PM Jan 1, 2020
Great place to visit
We dropped in because we had an hour to kill before our bus to the Antarctic Centre so weren’t expecting a whole heap, but the museum is really great and we would recommend putting it on any itinerary. Dinosaurs for the kids, a real Mummy which is pretty cool and a lot to explore. I would say budget a couple of hours at least as we were a bit rushed, but there’s something for everyone here I reckon!
4An inquisitive Hobbit 5:00 PM Feb 24, 2020
Plenty to see and enjoy
This is a pretty cool place to check out if you’re in Christchurch. There’s really something for everyone as the museum covers a variety of different eras. My favourite sections were the East Polynesian settlers and learning more about the early European settlers. Seeing these two sections helped me gain a deeper appreciation of New Zealand’s history. My husband enjoyed seeing the changes in lifestyle and technology over the decades (just to show you how wide the collection is!) There’s even a street that gives you an impression of what the high street would have looked like in the 19th century in Christchurch! You can either take your time to see everything (giving you a good overview of different eras) or you can choose what you’d like to see (the different sections are well signposted). If you’re a tourist, I would recommend putting aside two hours to visit the museum. There’s plenty here that will help you learn about New Zealand’s geology, history and culture. The museum store’s prices are affordable if you want to buy a souvenir, as well.

Canterbury Museum, South Island, New Zealand